Cork extractor and bottle opener



June 7, 1932. WELLER I 1,861,993

CORK EXTRACTOR AND BOTTLE OPENER Fileq May 10, 1929 Patented June 7, 1932 UNITED stares PATENT JOHN H. WELLER, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR 'IO SARGENT & COMPANY, T i I OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT M CORK EXTRACTOR AND BOTTLE OPENER Application filed May 10,

My invention relates to a cork extractor and bottle opener, and more especially to a cork extractor and bottle opener by means of which corks and other sealing devices may be removed from the necks of bottles without mutilation.

The usual cork extractor comprises a screw which is threaded into the cork and the cork removed by an axial pull on the extractor. It quite often happens that the frictional resistance between the cork and bottle neck is greater than the resistance offered to the withdrawal of the screw from the cork, with the result that the screw is 16 pulled out of the cork, leaving the latter in a mutilated condition in the bottle.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a cork extractor in which the frictional resistance of the cork in the bottle neck is overcome as an axial force is applied to the cork in order that the latter may be readily withdrawn without mutilation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an extractor having the above features which may accommodate itself to corks of various diameters.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device by means of which sealing devices of different characters may be readily separated from the necks of bottles.

A feature of the invention resides in a novel means for suspending the improved cork extractor and bottle opener from a nail or the like when the improved cork extractor and bottle opener is not in use, the suspending means being foldable out of the way when the device is in use.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the novel features and combination of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is an elevatio-nal View, showing a 4'5 cork extractor and bottle opener according to my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the opposite side of the cork extractor and bottle opener;

' Fig. 3 is a side view of the same;

1929. Serial No. 361,938.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view along line 4-4 of Fig. 2; J

Fig. 5 is a sectional view along line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a View showing the cork extractor in operative engagement with a cork in the neck of a bottle; and

Fig. 7 is a view partly broken away, showing the device in use in withdrawing a cap from the neck of a bottle. -5

Referring to the drawing in which I have illustrated my invention by showing a. preferred embodiment of the same, thereference numeral 10 indicates in general my improved 7 cork extractor and bottle opener, which comprises generally speaking a handle 11, a cork extracting part 12, abottle cap removing part 13, and a hanger 14.' The handle 11, whichmay conveniently take the form of a casting of any suitable material, is provided 7b with laterally extending arms '15 and 16, which may be surrounded by the fingers of an operator during the act of withdrawing a cork. On the lower end of handle 11 is a shank 17 in which are secured a pair of arms We 18 and 19 of the cork extracting part 12. Preferably the arms 18 and 19 are formed out of a single strip of material doubled over at 20, the handle 11 being preferably cast around the doubled over part 20, as shown in i Fig. 1, in orderto firmly anchor the cork extracting part 12 to the handle.

Arms 18 and 19 as they emerge from handle 11 curve inwardly towards one another to points 21 and 22, and then curve outward- -35 1y to points 23 and 24, and then taper sli htly towards one another until at their ends 25 and 26 they again curve outwardly, arm 19 being slightly shorter than arm 18. i As shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing, the ends of arms 7 00 18 and 19 beyond points 23 and 24 are curved in cross-section to present inner concave and outer convex surfaces, while the remainder of the strip'from which the cork extracting part'is formed is relatively flat. -96

The operation of the device in pullin or extracting corks is as follows: The en 25 of arm 18,"the latter being longer than arm 19, is inserted between. the inner surface 27 of neck 28 of bottle 29 and the surface-of 100.

cork 30, and then the end 26 of arm 19 is inserted between the cork and the surface 27 of neck 28 at a point diametrically opposite arm 18, whereupon the two arms are pressed downwardly between the cork and bottle neck and beyond the end of the cork into the position shown in Fig. 6 of the drawing, or slightly beyond this position, the inwardly curved parts above points 23 and 24 limitingthe amount-the armsmay beinserted into bottle by contacting withthe upper end of the cork. The lateral extensions 15 and 16 are grasped by the fingers of the operator and the extractor is withdrawn by a combined rotary and upward movement of the extractor in neck28, the cork being loosened from the neck of the bottle and withdrawn therefrom as the extractor moves upwardly. The outwardly curved portions 25 and'26ron thelower ends ofithe arms 18 and :19 guide the latter between the cork and bottle neck 'and overcome any tendency of the arms :to enter thecork, while the transverse curvature of the arms permitsthe latterto'be readily rotated in the bottle neck anditoefiiciently grip thecork. 1

Handle 11 is iinwardly concave at 31 and provided near its upper end with an outwardly extending arm .32 having a down- .wardly projecting lug v33 which may engage acap 34 (Fig. 7) of bottle 34 to remove the 'latter'by downward pressure onarms 18 and 19.

'The hanger 14 comprisesa-rin 35 bent-out of resilient wire or the like, and having integrally formed therewith spaced arms 36 and 37 provided with lateral extensions 38 and 39, which enterand arepivotally mounted in openings 40and 41 in handle 11, the :latterbeing coredout at 142and43 so that the hanger maybe 'folded intothe handle. The handle is-cut away-at 44,50 that the finger :nail of the operator or a suitable toolmay be inserted under the hanger in orderto swing the latter into operative position, wherein the cork extractor and bottle-opener-may'be suspended from a nail orhook when not in use.

From the above description of the nature and-operation'ofmy improved cork extractor and bottlezopener, it will be readily seen that :I' have provided a device which may efficiently withdraw cor-ks and caps ofany size within the scope of the tool from bottles without multilation, and which .issimple in 'form,.havingno :parts which are aptto get out of order.

While I have shown and described-a preferred embodimentof my invention, :it will be understood that itiis not to be limited to allathe details shown, butis capable'ofmodification and variation within the spirit of :the invention and :the scope i of the appended :c-laims. 5

fingers being made out of a single strip of resilient material looped intermediate its ends, the looped .part being embedded in the shank, said fingers curving inwardly toward one another adjacent the shank and then immediately outwardly away from one another. 2. In a device :for withdrawing corks from the necks of bottles or the like, a. solid handle having a shank and integrally formed laterally'extending arms, and a pairv of cork gripping fingers extending downwardly from the? shank and adapted to engage a cork-seatedin theneck of a bottle by insertion into the bottle between the neck and 1 cork, said fingers being made out-of :a single strip of resilient looped part being embedded in the shank,

said fingers curving inwardly toward one another adjacent the shank and :then immediately outwardly away fromone another,

tion at their ends and adjacentthe shank and .of curved cross-sectionbetweemtheEinwardly curved parts and :their ends.

In witness whereof, 'I havehereunto-set my hand this 4 day ofMay, 1929.

JOHN WELLER.

Vmaterial looped intermediate its ends, the? .said fingers being relatively J'flat in cross-sec- 

